Hay donations sought for reservations

Staff and wire report

State officials are calling on Montana residents to help people struggling to deal with the record-setting winter this year, with Montana Department of Agriculture’s online system set up to help people donate hay including to ranchers on two Indian reservations and the governor setting up a system for general aid.

Due to the ongoing impacts of severe winter weather, there is currently a significant and urgent need for hay on both the Northern Cheyenne and Fort Belknap reservations, the Department of Agriculture said in a release.

Producers willing to donate hay and/or hauling services can contact emergency personnel at the following numbers:

Fort Belknap: John Young, 353-4874

Northern Cheyenne: Gene Small, 406-665-6290 or 406-477-8474

The Montana Hay Hotline is also available to producers as an online tool to donate, buy, or sell hay. Producers needing donated hay or producers wanting to donate hay can go to the site and create a donation listing by selecting “Donation” from the “Forage Type” dropdown menu. Users can also search existing listings to see what is currently available to purchase or create a new listing of hay for sale. Visit the online tool at http://agr.mt.gov/Hay-Hotline.

Gov. Steve Bullock encouraged Montanans across the state Friday to assist Montanans in need suffering from the impacts of severe winter weather across the state.

Bullock declared a winter storm emergency Tuesday in Northwestern and Southeastern Montana, including on the Blackfeet, Fort Belknap, and Northern Cheyenne reservations and in Glacier and Golden Valley counties.

“In Montana we lend our neighbors a helping hand in times of need. Right now Montanans across the state are dealing with the impacts of severe winter storms and snowdrifts. So whether it’s food, firewood, hay or a small monetary donation, let’s make sure our fellow Montanans stay safe and warm this weekend.”

Bullock set up a Donations Management website to assist those in need. Montanans can donate through this link: http://www.readyandsafe.mt.gov/.

Items in greatest need include nonperishable food, firewood and hay. Cash donations are welcome. Areas in Northern Cheyenne and Blackfeet welcome assistance from area contractors for snow removal. 

  Organizations listed on the website are verified and are working with Donations Management to provide relief to those who need it here in Montana.